Diermeier
Shea took part in seven of UConn’s titles as a player of coach
Said he remembered watching her
Said she was instrumental in academic success there
They don’t take shortcuts at VU
This is consistent with the approach they’ve been taking at VU
They give everyone the resources they need to be successful
She’s part of a new generation of coaches in a new era of Vanderbilt athletics
Candice took decisive action in assuring Shea took the job
The new facilities will help
CSL
The program can win championships
When she met with the players last week, she asked the players to give her a couple of weeks
She knew it could be shorter or longer
Focus wasn’t on the speed, but finding the right person
She’s a part of the program so it’s professional and personal (she played)
She didn’t have the time constraints of a signing period
But she knew the players were eager for a coach and they wanted to get this done before finals
Said they interviewed sitting head coaches
Said the level of interest confirmed this was a great job; they see it as a program with unlimited potential
Shea is genuine and has sincere joy and gratitude for the job
When she talked to Geno A., he told her she was relentless in all she does
Shea made it clear she doesn’t like to lose
Everyone who met her in the search was impressed
It’s her first job but few have more experience competing for championships
Thanked Diermeier for his support
CSL asked whether she was surprised Shea took the job
She wasn’t surprised but she was delighted
She’s glad Shea felt the same way
Shea Ralph
Thanked everyone
Said she’s happy to be here
Humbled and proud
Wants to build something great
Her husband and her daughter are her “north star”
She has four core values: Family, Growth, Integrity and Leadership
That’ll be the core of her philosophy
That starts and ends with people
They’ll all have each others’ backs
They want a program that wins big on and off the court
She’s spent her whole life preparing for this
Invited people to join them and be part of things
Was asked about what she saw about the potential at VU as opposed to other opportunities
Said it’s hard to leave UConn
The school has so much going for it with athletics and academics—and you wonder why the women’s program isn’t in the elite conversations nationally
Asked about facilities holding it back in the past and there are new ones now, how much of that was discussed?
Said it’s a game changer but more than that it shows an investment from the chancellor and the community
When you talk to people, they want and desire excellence
When she learned about how invested VU was across the board (not just financial) that stuck out
How quickly can they turn things around?
She’d love for it to be sooner rather than later
But building things the right way takes time, however, it lasts forever
They don’t take shortcuts at Vanderbilt
They’ll all be pulling in the same direction
It’s not always unicorns and rainbows, it takes hard work
She hates losing and doesn’t plan to lose much, but sometimes you have to lose a bit to win
How can their past help them succeed in the future?
It lets her know it can be done
But she wants it to go higher
(Can’t remember the question)
Said building trust with players and staff is important
Players need to know you care about them and their success
Asked about what her husband (who was an assistant here) advised her regarding this job
He said two words: “No brainer”
Said her husband doesn’t mince words
He understands what kind of job this his
How will she be different at Vanderbilt?
She knows what it takes to build and sustain success
She loved being part of that environment
What she won’t bring: “Technical fouls. Maybe a few, but not a lot.”
Asked specifics about what she likes being in the SEC
She likes the battle
You grow during adversity
Shea took part in seven of UConn’s titles as a player of coach
Said he remembered watching her
Said she was instrumental in academic success there
They don’t take shortcuts at VU
This is consistent with the approach they’ve been taking at VU
They give everyone the resources they need to be successful
She’s part of a new generation of coaches in a new era of Vanderbilt athletics
Candice took decisive action in assuring Shea took the job
The new facilities will help
CSL
The program can win championships
When she met with the players last week, she asked the players to give her a couple of weeks
She knew it could be shorter or longer
Focus wasn’t on the speed, but finding the right person
She’s a part of the program so it’s professional and personal (she played)
She didn’t have the time constraints of a signing period
But she knew the players were eager for a coach and they wanted to get this done before finals
Said they interviewed sitting head coaches
Said the level of interest confirmed this was a great job; they see it as a program with unlimited potential
Shea is genuine and has sincere joy and gratitude for the job
When she talked to Geno A., he told her she was relentless in all she does
Shea made it clear she doesn’t like to lose
Everyone who met her in the search was impressed
It’s her first job but few have more experience competing for championships
Thanked Diermeier for his support
CSL asked whether she was surprised Shea took the job
She wasn’t surprised but she was delighted
She’s glad Shea felt the same way
Shea Ralph
Thanked everyone
Said she’s happy to be here
Humbled and proud
Wants to build something great
Her husband and her daughter are her “north star”
She has four core values: Family, Growth, Integrity and Leadership
That’ll be the core of her philosophy
That starts and ends with people
They’ll all have each others’ backs
They want a program that wins big on and off the court
She’s spent her whole life preparing for this
Invited people to join them and be part of things
Was asked about what she saw about the potential at VU as opposed to other opportunities
Said it’s hard to leave UConn
The school has so much going for it with athletics and academics—and you wonder why the women’s program isn’t in the elite conversations nationally
Asked about facilities holding it back in the past and there are new ones now, how much of that was discussed?
Said it’s a game changer but more than that it shows an investment from the chancellor and the community
When you talk to people, they want and desire excellence
When she learned about how invested VU was across the board (not just financial) that stuck out
How quickly can they turn things around?
She’d love for it to be sooner rather than later
But building things the right way takes time, however, it lasts forever
They don’t take shortcuts at Vanderbilt
They’ll all be pulling in the same direction
It’s not always unicorns and rainbows, it takes hard work
She hates losing and doesn’t plan to lose much, but sometimes you have to lose a bit to win
How can their past help them succeed in the future?
It lets her know it can be done
But she wants it to go higher
(Can’t remember the question)
Said building trust with players and staff is important
Players need to know you care about them and their success
Asked about what her husband (who was an assistant here) advised her regarding this job
He said two words: “No brainer”
Said her husband doesn’t mince words
He understands what kind of job this his
How will she be different at Vanderbilt?
She knows what it takes to build and sustain success
She loved being part of that environment
What she won’t bring: “Technical fouls. Maybe a few, but not a lot.”
Asked specifics about what she likes being in the SEC
She likes the battle
You grow during adversity
